MIES (Switzerland) - USA came, USA saw, and USA conquered.
Entering the summer at the top of FIBA World Ranking Boys and FIBA World Ranking Girls, USA fortified their places at the top of the ladders by winning four titles in the youth competitions.
While the USA cruised to titles at the FIBA U16 AmeriCups, they had to survive some battles at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cups.
In the end, though, the Americans went 26-0!
At the FIBA U16 AmeriCup in Juarez, Mexico, played from June 2 to June 8, the USA won the title for the ninth consecutive time. They prevailed in their six games by an average margin of 58.67 points per game, with Nasir Anderson the Most Valuable Player of the event. Teammate Marcus Spears also made the All-Star Five.
The USA then steamrolled the competition at the FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup in Irapuato, Mexico, winning all six games by an average of 72.16 points. Ivanna Wilson was the MVP of the tournament and USA teammate Eve Long earned a spot in the All-Star Five.
The Americans went undefeated at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland and the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Czechia.
In Lausanne, the USA team won all seven of their games and most of them comprehensively. USA did have a lot of trouble with Canada in the Quarter-Finals, trailing against them in the fourth quarter before winning, 108-102.
AJ Dybantsa was name MVP of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup with USA teammate Mikel Brown Jr also named to the All-Star Five. The title allowed the USA to get back on top after their fourth-place finish at the tournament in 2023.
At the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Brno, Czechia, the USA went 7-0 to capture the title at the event for the fourth consecutive time.
After cruising past the opposition in the Group Phase and the Round of 16, however, the Americans had to dig deep to get go unbeaten. They held on to defeat France in the Quarter-Finals, 70-65, Spain in the Semi-Finals, 70-58, and Australia in the Final, 88-76.
USA star Saniyah Hall scooped the MVP award for the tournament while Sienna Betts was named to the All-Star Five.
FIBA